Momentum Media has attended the 2025 Navy Week Open Day in Sydney, hosted by the Royal Australian Navy.
HMAS Arunta alongside the wharf. Photo: Robert Dougherty
Staff from the company’s Defence Connect team attended Fleet Base East on Saturday, 8 March to talk with sailors, officers and examine military equipment used by the Australian Defence Force.
Staff undertook a tour of ANZAC-class helicopter frigate HMAS Arunta (II), amphibious assault ship HMAS Canberra (III) alongside the wharf at the base and HMAS Kuttabul.
In addition, there were also Navy static displays from key units in the area, vehicle displays, interactive weapons displays, live entertainment from the Royal Australian Navy Band Sydney and simulators for the Navy's multi-role MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.
Defence Connect senior journalist Robert Dougherty, who attended the event, said the tour of HMAS Canberra and HMAS Arunta was a particular highlight.
“It was great to see the interior of HMAS Canberra and really get a sense of scale across the four massive main decks (flight, accommodation, hanger etc) of the ship,” he said.
“Seeing the vertical launch system on HMAS Arunta was also a good perspective. We were able to chat casually with crew about the recent interactions with the Chinese task force off the Australian coast, what they thought about the situation and discuss what response they are usually authorised for.
“Being able to fly the Seahawk helicopter simulator using a virtual reality headset was also a definite highlight among the mechanical workshops and base structure at HMAS Kuttabul.”
The deck of HMAS Arunta on 2025 Navy Week Open Day. Photo: Robert Dougherty
HMAS Canberra can be used by the Australian Defence Force to conduct amphibious operations and land a force of over 1000 embarked personnel along with all their weapons, ammunition, vehicles and stores by LCM-1E landing craft and helicopters.
HMAS Arunta is used by the Australian Defence Force in air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction roles. The ship boasts significant anti-ship missile defence systems as well as decoy, a Mark 41 VLS, Mark 46 torpedoes and a Mark 45 naval artillery gun.